Jonathan hughes



GATE.

(No Model.)

No. 508,018. Patented Nov. '77, 1893.

UNITED STATES JONATHAN HUGHES, OF WAYNETOWN, INDIANA.

PATENT OFFICE'.-

GATE.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,018, dated November7, 1893. Appucaaon mammary 12, 1893. serial 110.458.113. (No modem To@ZZ whom itpmafy concern:

Beit known that I, JONATHAN HUGHES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Waynetown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings, in whichl Figure 1 is an isometrical view of agate embodied in my invention; and Fig. 2 is a transverse section of thelatch post, showing the latch mortise and the inclines leading thereto.

`My invention relates more particularly to an appliance for the openingand closing of swinging-gates in two directions, so as to allow personsin vehicles or otherwise mounted to pass through from either directionwithout the inconvenience of dismounting. With this purpose in view myinvention consists in the peculiar construction, combination, andarrangement of the various parts as will be more specifically pointedout-in the following description and claim.

In the annexed drawings like numbers of reference indicate correspondingparts throughout the severalviews. y

1 represents the gate proper which may be formed substantially as shownin the drawings and is hinged to the rear post 2 by any suitable meansordinarily employed in hanging swinging gates. For the purpose ofcausing said gate to close automatically I have provided the inner sideof post 2 near the top with a horizontal spring 3 which operates againstthe upper rail 4 of the gate.

5, 5 represent two uprights or posts located at a suitable distance fromthe side latchposts 6, 6 for the purpose of allowing gate 1 to be closedwithout interfering with the vehicle and for carrying cords or cables asshown.

To the top of the uprights or posts 5, 5 are securely fastened the arms7, 7 which project laterally over the roadway for convenience ingrasping the cords or cables and are provided with rectangularly-slottedblocks 8, 8 which have rollers or sheaves 9, 9 mounted loosely therein,over which pass the cords or cables 10 10. Said blocks are securelyattached underneath at the outer ends of the arms, or if desiredordinary pulleys may be suspended instead of said blocks for the purposeof receiving the cords or cables.

Rigidly secured to the rear post 2 is a rect- 55 angular cap-piece 1lprovided with a pair of small cap-pieces 12, 12 attached transverselythereon and slotted at their inner ends for the reception of a pair ofrollers 13, 13 around which pass the cord or cables 10, 10'. 6o

A segment-shaped guide-piece 14,provided at its ends with the-eyes15, 15through which pass the cords or cables, is firmly fastened on rail 4 forthe purpose of securing leverage, sufcient, to make the openingandclosing of the gate an easy matter. 16 indicates a guidestaple for thecords or cables 10, 10.

The front portion of gate 1 is provided with a spring-latch 17, 18operated horizontally, which may be substantially of theform 7o shown inthe drawings and comprises alatch 17 which is impelled outward by aspring 18 that is securely fastened underneath rail 4 at the inward endof the latch. The vertical lever 19, pivoted at its lower end to railL12, is used to operate latch 17 horizontally, the two being pivotedtogether at about their longitudinal centers.

Each of the cords or cables 10, 10 referred to hereinbefore, passes fromits roller or 8o sheave 9 or 9 inwardly, over the small cappiece 12 or12', or in front of the nearest roller 13 or 13', to and around theroller farthest from the approaching Y side, and forward through the eye15 or 15 and the guide-staple 85 16, to the lever 19 Where each is tiedor otherwise fastened if desired.

20 and 20' indicate weights suspended at the free ends of the cords orcables for the purpose of taking up slack so as to tighten 9o them whennot in use.

The -Yfront post or latch-post, proper 2 is formed on the inner sidewith a pair of oblique faces 21, 21 which converge approximately to thesides of a rectangular mortise 22 betweenthem. Inclosing ugate l fromeither direction, the oblique faces 21,21 force latch 17 inward, and themortise catches it in its outward thrust which securely fastens theclosed gate.

Each of the side latch-posts 6, 6 is formed on its near and inner sidewith an oblique face IOO 23 or 23 that incliues toward the edge of arectangular Inortise 24 or 24;which catches the latch and securely holdsthe opened gate. 25 and 25 indicate bufting-blocks for the gate.

To open the gate, the free end of one of the cords or cables is drawndownward thereby drawing the latch 17 out of the mortise 22 andreleasing the closed gate. By then giving the cords or cables a stoutpull and slackening quickly, so as to throw the gate lightly against theside latch-posts the gate opens and fasf tens itself. The gate is closedby repeating the above operation on the cord or cables opposite from theone used in opening it.

It will be seen by this novel and peculiar arrangement that the gateproper can be as couveniently manipulated by footmen -or `pedestrians asit can be by `persons in vehicles or otherwise mounted.

I am aware that cords and cables have heretofore been used for thepurpose of opening and closing swinging-gates. Therefore, I do not claimbroadly the use of cords and cables, but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The combination, in a gate, of the rear post provided on the inner sidenear the top with a horizontal spring which operates against l latch andsecurely holds the closed gate; the

side latch posts provided on their near and inner sides with oblique`faces which incline rearwardly toward the edge of rectangular mortises,the cords or cables passing through the slotted blocks to and around therollers of the cap-pieceand vforward through the eyes of the guide-piecetoa vertically-pivoted lever which operates the spring-latch`, `andWeights attached to `the free ends of said cords'or cables,substantially as specified.

JONATHAN HUGHES.

Witnesses GEO. W. CLARK, I-I. J. WEBSTER.

